Today sees the launch of the 14th annual Guardian Charity Awards (in association with NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland), which seek to shine a light on often unsung work done by small and medium-sized charities working in social welfare at a grassroots level. The awards are designed to offer smaller organisations a leg-up, both financially and in terms of much-needed publicity.

The Guardian wants to hear about the charities you think deserve a pat on the back. Is your own charity worthy of recognition for community achievement or for providing practical solutions to present-day problems? Or are you aware of achievements of a small charity, with a turnover of less than £1m a year, that could be replicated elsewhere if only it was highlighted and given the cash to help?

David Brindle, the Guardian's public services editor, who is chairing this year's panel of judges, says: "When people think of charities, they tend to think of big names. But it is the smaller charities that come up with the most innovative ideas to address pressing social issues. Smaller charities have the flexibility, the creativity and the direct contact with the community that helps fresh thinking flourish.

"All too often, what they do not have is the public recognition of their achievements and that is where the Guardian Charity Awards, now in its 14th year, can redress the balance. Last year's winners covered a wide range of services, helping a cross-section of society. As long as the objective is improving social wellbeing in its broadest sense - and provided all other entry criteria are met - nothing is ruled out."

Last year's winners were: The Food Chain, a charity from Tufnell Park, north London, that last year - via a network of 700 volunteers, three staff and limited funding - provided 50,000 nutritious meals to more than 500 men and women who are sick with HIV-related illness; Mattdotcom, a cancer charity based in Lincoln that helps sick teenagers keep up with their studies by providing them with essential computer and other IT equipment while in hospital and, by ensuring that youngsters don't fall behind in their studies, also helps to reduce the pressure on families; SeeSaw, based in Oxford, which strives to reduce the stress of bereaved children and enable families to work together through the difficult times after the death of a loved one; and Magic Breakfast, from Covent Garden, central London, which prepares and delivers a healthy, nutritious and free-of-charge breakfast to children who arrive at primary schools without having had a proper breakfast; and Witness (formerly Popan), a Southwark-based charity that is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to supporting children who have been victims of abuse by health or social care workers who were supposed to be helping them.

Promoting links

The five winning charities will each receive a cheque for £6,000 from NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and a brand new PC from Smartchange, a company that works to promote links between charities and companies in other sectors.

Along with David Brindle, the judging panel comprises actor Jane Asher, president of the National Autistic Society, Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Baroness Valerie Howarth, former chief executive of ChildLine, Tracy Betts, head of social economy banking at NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland, and Vinay Khosla, managing director of Vivid Orange, which supplies the Smartchange service.